Lobster stuns scientists by growing back four legs and both claws in a month

© SWNS

Clawdia the lobster has stunned experts by re-growing her missing limbs in just one month

A lop-sided lobster that lost four legs and both claws has stunned experts by growing them all back in just one month.

Crippled Clawdia stood little chance of survival in the wild before she was found by fishermen.

She was missing all her legs missing on one side, was pregnant, and was also missing both claws.

Taking pity on her the fisherman handed her into experts at the National Lobster Hatchery who nursed her back to health.

They fed her with plenty of nutritious food and after helping her spawn her clutch of eggs were stunned to see how much progress she had made within a month

Clawdia moulted her old shell on Monday to reveal four new full-sized left legs as well as two front claws.

Lobsters commonly grow their legs and claws back but the process normally occurs over the course of a few moults and takes much longer.

Dr Carly Daniels, research and development officer at the sanctuary said: "She didn't come into us that long ago with just four legs and no claws.

"The fishermen brought her into us because they noticed she was looking particularly worse for wear and they thought we would be its best chance.

"We didn't want to release her back into the wild after she had released her eggs as she was very fragile. We fed her up, gave her plenty of protein.

"She moulted on Monday morning. In the process of moulting, the exoskeleton falls off and there is a soft one underneath which slowly hardens.

"In the process of moulting legs and claws can grow back, but it can often take a few moults until they are full length.

"It's not normal that they all grow back at once, but Clawdia was obviously particularly healthy.

"She has grown back all four sets of her walking legs, as well as her claws at the front, though I wouldn't be surprised if these get bigger on her next moult.

"We've never seen a lobster grow back four sets of legs and claws in just one moult. It's amazing."

The National Lobster Hatchery, Padstow, Cornwall, is a marine conservation, research and education charity.

Want something else to read? How about 'Grievous Censorship' By The Guardian: Israel, Gaza And The Termination Of Nafeez Ahmed's Blog